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NFL overtime rules

Owners voted Wednesday at the NFL Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., to adopt the postseason overtime modified sudden death format in the regular season as well. Teams now will have the opportunity to possess the ball at least once in the extra period unless the team that receives the overtime kickoff scores a touchdown on its first possession. The only difference is that regular season games can end in a tie if the score remains locked after 15 minutes, while a playoff game cannot.

Here's a look at the NFL's overtime procedures for both the regular season and playoffs under the new decision:

MODIFIED SUDDEN DEATH

The modified sudden death system of determining the winner shall prevail when the score is tied at the end of regulation playing time of NFL games. The system guarantees each team a possession or the opportunity to possess, unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its initial possession.

» At the end of regulation time, the Referee will immediately toss a coin at the center of the field in accordance with rules pertaining to the usual pregame toss. The captain of the visiting team will call the toss prior to the coin being flipped.

» Following a three-minute intermission after the end of the regulation game, play will be continued in 15-minute periods until a winner is declared. Each team must possess or have the opportunity to possess the ball unless the team that has the ball first scores a touchdown on its initial possession. Play continues in sudden death until a winner is determined, and the game automatically ends upon any score (by safety, field goal, or touchdown) or when a score is awarded by the Referee for a palpably unfair act. Each team has three time-outs per half and all general timing provisions apply as during a regular game. The try is not attempted if a touchdown is scored. Disqualified players are not allowed to return.

» Instant Replay: No challenges. Reviews to be initiated by the replay assistant.

Key Definitions:

» Possession: Actual possession of the ball with complete control. The defense gains possession when it catches, intercepts, or recovers a loose ball.

» Opportunity to possess: The opportunity to possess occurs only during kicking plays. A kickoff is an opportunity to possess for the receiving team. If the kicking team legally recovers the kick, the receiving team is considered to have had its opportunity. A punt or a field goal that crosses the line of scrimmage and is muffed by the receiving team is considered to be an opportunity to possess for the receivers. Normal touching rules by the kicking team apply.

Following are the Approved Rulings pertaining to overtime as found on pages 106-108 of the 2010 Official Casebook of the NFL:

APPROVED RULINGS

RULE 16-SUDDEN DEATH

A.R. 16.1 KICKOFF RETURN FOR TOUCHDOWN Team B receives the opening kickoff and returns it for a touchdown.Ruling: Game over. Team B wins.

A.R. 16.2 ONSIDE KICK On the opening kickoff of overtime, Team A legally recovers the ball at the A41.Ruling: A's ball, first-and-10 on A41. A kickoff is considered an opportunity to possess for the receiving team. Team B is considered to have had an opportunity to possess the ball.

A.R. 16.3 ONSIDE KICK On the opening kickoff of overtime, Team A attempts an onside kick. A2 legally touches the ball at the A42 but muffs it and it is recovered by B1 at the A43.Ruling: B's ball, first-and-10 on A43. Team A is not considered to have had an opportunity to possess the ball.

A.R. 16.4 MUFFED KICKOFF Following a successful field goal on the opening possession of overtime, Team A's kickoff is muffed by B1 at the B35 and is recovered by A2.Ruling: Game over. Team A wins. Team B had an opportunity to possess the ball.

A.R. 16.5 TOUCHDOWN ON FIRST POSSESSION Team A drives down the field on the opening possession of overtime and scores a touchdown.Ruling: Game over. Team A wins.

A.R. 16.6 FIELD GOAL ON FIRST POSSESSION Team A kicks a field goal on the opening possession of overtime.Ruling: Three points for Team A, but the game is not over. Team A must kick off to Team B. If Team B scores a touchdown or does not score the game is over. If Team B scores a field goal the game continues under sudden death.

A.R. 16.7 MUFFED PUNT On the opening possession of overtime, Team A punts and B3 muffs the punt at the B20. A6 recovers at the B22.Ruling: A's ball, first-and-10 on B22. Team B had the opportunity to possess the kick. Both teams have met the minimum requirements for possession and the first team to score wins.

A.R. 16.8 FUMBLED KICKOFF RETURN On the opening kickoff of overtime, B3 returns the ball to the B30 where he is hit and fumbles. A6 muffs the loose ball to the B28 where B5 recovers.Ruling: B's ball, first-and-10 on B28. Since the ball was loose from a fumble as opposed to a kick, Team A is not considered to have had an opportunity to possess the ball.

A.R. 16.9 BLOCKED PUNT Fourth-and-5 on A45. On the opening possession of overtime, Team A's punt is blocked by B3 at the A35. A2 picks up the loose ball at the A40 and runs to the 50 for a first down.Ruling: A's ball, first-and-10 on 50. Team B is not considered to have had an opportunity to possess the ball because it did not touch the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.

A.R. 16.10 BLOCKED PUNT Fourth-and-5 on A45. On the opening possession of overtime, Team A's punt is blocked by B3 at the A35. B4 attempts to pick up the loose ball at the A40 but muffs it to the A33 where it is recovered by A4 who runs to the B40 for a first down.Ruling: A's ball, first-and-10 on B40. Team B is not considered to have had an opportunity to possess the ball because it did not touch the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.

A.R. 16.11 BLOCKED PUNT Fourth-and-5 on A45. On the opening possession of overtime, Team A's punt is blocked by B3 at the A35. The ball hits the ground beyond the line at the B48 and bounces back to the A43 where it is recovered by A4 who runs to the B40 for a first down.Ruling: A's ball, first-and-10 on B40. Team B is not considered to have had an opportunity to possess the ball because it did not touch the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.

A.R. 16.12 BLOCKED PUNT Fourth-and-5 on A45. On the opening possession of overtime, Team A's punt is blocked by B3 at the A35. The ball bounces beyond the line to the A48, where B4 muffs the loose ball to the A45 where it is recovered by A4.Ruling: A's ball, first-and-10 on A45. By touching the punt beyond the line of scrimmage, a new series is awarded to Team A. Since Team B had the opportunity to possess the ball, both teams have met the minimum requirements for possession.

A.R. 16.13 FUMBLE Third-and-5 on A30. On the opening possession of overtime, A2 takes a handoff and runs to the B35 where he fumbles the ball. B2 recovers the ball and runs to the B40.Ruling: B's ball, first-and-10 on B40. Both teams have had an actual possession and the first team to score wins.

A.R. 16.14 FUMBLE Third-and-5 on A30. On the opening possession of overtime, A2 takes a handoff and runs to the B35 where he fumbles the ball. B2 recovers the ball and runs to the B40 where he is hit and fumbles. A5 recovers at the B41.Ruling: A's ball, first-and-10 on B41. Both teams have possessed the ball and the first team to score wins.

A.R. 16.15 INTERCEPTION Third-and-5 on A30. On the opening possession of overtime, B2 intercepts a pass at the 50 and returns it for a touchdown.Ruling: Game over. Team B wins. Each team has had an actual possession.

A.R. 16.16 FUMBLE Second-and-10 on A30. On the opening possession of overtime, A2 takes a handoff and runs to the A38 where he fumbles the ball. B2 muffs the loose ball at the A35 and it is recovered by A5 at the A33.Ruling: A's ball, third-and-7 on A33. Since the ball was loose from a fumble as opposed to a kick, Team B is not considered to have had an opportunity to possess the ball.

A.R. 16.17 TOUCHING OF A PASS Third-and-5 on A30. On the opening possession of overtime, A1 drops back to pass and throws the ball from the A23. The ball is tipped by defensive lineman B4 at the A25 and is caught by tight end A3 at the A34. A3 runs to the A40 where he is tackled.Ruling: A's ball, first-and-10 on A40. Touching of a pass by Team B does not constitute an opportunity to possess the ball.

A.R. 16.18 INCOMPLETE PASS Second-and-5 on A30. On the opening possession of overtime, A1 drops back to pass and throws the ball from the A23 toward receiver A2 at the B40. Cornerback B4 jumps up to intercept the pass and lands with his left foot inbounds and his right foot on the sideline.Ruling: A's ball, third-and-5 on A30. An incomplete pass is not considered an opportunity to possess.

A.R. 16.19 SAFETY Third-and-5 on A7. On the opening possession of overtime, A1 is tackled in his own end zone for a safety.Ruling: Game over. Team B wins. Both teams have met the minimum requirements for possession.

A.R. 16.20 FIELD GOAL Fourth-and-5 on B25. On the opening possession of overtime, Team A's field-goal attempt is blocked by B3 at the line of scrimmage and lands at the B28 where it is recovered by A4 who runs to the B18 for a first down.Ruling: A's ball, first-and-10 on B18. Team B is not considered to have had an opportunity to possess the ball because it did not touch the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.

A.R. 16.21 FIELD GOAL Fourth-and-5 on B25. On the opening possession of overtime, Team A's field-goal attempt is blocked by B3 at the line of scrimmage. The ball hits the ground beyond the line at the B22 and bounces back to the B28 where it is recovered by A4 who runs to the B18 for a first down.Ruling: A's ball, first-and-10 on B18. Team B is not considered to have had an opportunity to possess the ball because it did not touch the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.

A.R. 16.22 FIELD GOAL Fourth-and-5 on B25. On the opening possession of overtime, Team A's field-goal attempt is blocked by B3 at the line of scrimmage. The ball bounces beyond the line to the B20, where B4 muffs the loose ball to the B18 where it is recovered by A4.Ruling: A's ball, first-and-10 on B18. Because Team B touched the kick beyond the line of scrimmage, a new series is awarded to Team A. Since Team B had the opportunity to possess the ball, both teams have met the minimum requirements for possession.